Readers Guide: Connolly’s ‘The Wrath of Angels’ at Library

Perhaps Dr. Benjamin E. Mays has never had the acclaim received by his protégé and friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but his belief in the dignity of all humans and his despair at the difference between our country's democratic ideals and our social practices inspired King and other African-American leaders of the day.

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By Susie Stooksbury/Special to The Oak Ridger

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Susie Stooksbury/Special to The Oak Ridger

Posted Jan. 31, 2013 at 7:54 PM
Updated Jan 31, 2013 at 7:56 PM

By Susie Stooksbury/Special to The Oak Ridger

Posted Jan. 31, 2013 at 7:54 PM
Updated Jan 31, 2013 at 7:56 PM

Perhaps Dr. Benjamin E. Mays has never had the acclaim received by his protégé and friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but his belief in the dignity of all humans and his despair at the difference between our country's democratic ideals and our social practices inspired King and other African-American leaders of the day. Oak Ridger Freddie C. Colston has brought together and edited 21 of Mays' most stirring speeches in “A Long Journey: Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Speaks on the Struggle for Social Justice in America” (ORR 323.119).

For nearly 100,000 years mankind lived in tribes, usually as a hunter-gatherer, and abided by the rules within that traditional society. It is only very recently, then, that technology has brought what most of us consider to be an advanced, better way of life. Geologist and Pulitzer Prize winning author Jared Diamond believes, though, that some of the cultural standards and practices of those tribes, including the ones still in existence today, hold valuable truths. His latest book is “The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?” (305.899).

Word about the discovery of the wreckage of a mysterious plane in Maine's backwoods piques the interest of private eye Charlie Parker. It seems no bodies were ever found. The plane only contained a list of names of morally corrupt public figures. A lot of people have been looking for that wreckage, as well, including the man called Brightwell who Charlie believes killed his wife and son. In “The Wrath of Angels,” John Connolly once again takes Parker into the realm of the supernatural as he continues his battle against unknown forces of evil.

Eloise Hempel, at 28, was on her way to her new teaching position at Harvard when she learned that her sister and brother-in-law had been tragically killed while on vacation, leaving behind their three children — 11-year-old Theodora, 9-year-old Josh, and 2-year-old Claire — in the hands of her mother Francine, who was so overcome with grief she was unable to function. Now after caring for the children for 17 years in their old rambling home in Cincinnati, Eloise hopes to sell the house and move in with her girlfriend, but the three siblings, who have not yet managed to leave the nest, don't want her to. Then Francine, who had no problem leaving Eloise in charge 17 years ago, reminds her that she still owns the house and has other plans for it. Leah Stewart's new family drama is “The History of Us.”

Most everyone agrees that wheat is a good part of a balanced, healthy diet. Cardiologist William Davis believes that, that was once true, but not anymore. He says the wheat we now consume has been so chemically altered it is creating its own set of health issues. Weight gain, asthma, acid reflux, rashes, and many other health problems can be reduced or even cleared up if we would just eliminate modern wheat from our diets. To prove how easy that is to do, Davis has created the “Wheat Belly Cookbook: 150 Recipes to Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health” (641.563).

Page 2 of 2 - Welcome to Meadowford Magna, a charming English village with the usual array of characters — the elegant lord and lady of the manor, a retired Army colonel, a crusty doctor, a police inspector, and assorted townspeople. It's all very proper and very British — but on this frightfully warm day in 1923, murder is afoot. Sheila Wright presents two tableaus of mischief, mayhem, and murder in “The Meadowford Mysteries — Book One” (M).

New DVDs:

Feature — “Along Came a Spider,” with Morgan Freeman and Monica Potter;